Permutation-lock.



4 T. A. SAMMONS.

PERMUTATION LOCK. APPLICATION F|LED. FEB. 23. I915.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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wi/hfwmo T. A. SAMMIONS.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 23. 1915.

' Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

-T. A. SAMMONS.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

'APPLICATlON FILED rmza. 1915.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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THOMAS A. SAMMONS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

PERMUTATIdN-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed February 23, 1915. Serial No. 9,958. 7

switch or the control lever of a motor cycle I or automobile. It is further applicable as a lock for electric switches such as the switch controlling the ignition system of an automobile or motorcycle or other electric circuit.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such devices wherebv they will not only be cheapened in construction but will be more eiiicient in use, positive in action. easily operated. capable of operation in the dark. and unlikely to get out of repair. A further object of the invention is to provide a form of permutation loclt which obviates the use of knobs. push buttons. levers or other external movable parts. necessary to be manipulated by the operator each time the-locking bolt is to be shifted. Such devices otter ten'iptation to unaiitlmrized persons to tamper with the locking mechanism. In the present instance the lock is operated by a single operation regardless of the number of tumblers or the figures of the combination. g

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock inwvhich the locking bolt is automaticallv locked in either its engaged or disengaged position. y l ith' the above primary and other incidental"objects. in view. as will more fllliv appear in. the specification. the invention cons ts of the features-of construction. the parts and. combinations thereof. and the mode of operation. or their eduiValents. as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. l

Referring to the drawings;Figure 1 is a. perspective view of the lock applied to the con rol lever ofan automobile. Fig. is a perspective view of the supporting frame for the lock attached to the lever but from which the lock has been removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lock removed from the supporting frame. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the locksupporting frame illustrating its mode of connection with the operating lever. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the lock applied to an electric switch such as the control switch for a motor ignition system. Fig. 5 is a modification of the electrical contact shown in Fig. Fig. 6. illustrates the application of the lock to a. door such as a vault or safe door. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the lock housing with the mechanism inclosed therein. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line a: a: of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a similar vertical sectional view on line 1 of Fig.

7. Fig. 10 is a similar vertical sectional view on line 2 z of Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 8 showing the locking tumblers in operated or releasing position with the releasing key engaging therewith. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the main frame of the lock housing. Fig. l v'is a sectional plan view of the lock housing intei'engaged with the supporting fraine. Fig. 14 is a detailperspective view of the closure slide for the lock housing and the locking bolt bv which the closure slide is secured in adjusted position and thelock housingsecured to the supporting frame. The said parts are shown in unlocked position. Fig. 15 is a detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 14. the locking bolt beingshown'iin locking position by dot and dash lines and in released position bv dotted lines and in an interi'nediate position. in which the housing is released. by solid lines. Fig; it) is a detail perspective view of the locking bolt. Fig. '17 is a detail perspective 'view of the tumblers. the detent or dog be ingshown in dottedfllines and the position of the locking bolt being shown in dot and dash lines. Fig. '18 is a perspective view of the release key. Fig. 19 a longitudinal sectional view of the release key. Fig. 20 is a detail perspective vieivof the frame of the Like parts are indicated by similar charactors of reference throughout the several news.

The lock forming the subject matter hereof involves a reciprocatory lock boltJwhich not only locks the control lever, the door, lid or other movable member, to which it is applied, in its adjusted position, but it also looks the housing or case for the lock mechanism to the supporting structure and furthermore locks the closure slides of the hous-' ing in closed position. Therefore the bolt not only prevents the operation of the movable member to which it is applied, such as the lever, door, or liid, but it also prevents the detachment of the lock mechanism and further preventsthe opening of the housing or case of the lock mechanism until the lock itself has beenreleased by proper manipulation of its. parts.

The locking bolt is controlled by a plurality of tumblers which may be variously arranged to change the c'o'mbination or formula by which the lock may be opened. The construction is such that a great number of tumblers or looking units may be man1pulated as easily and as quickly as a few looking membersf This affords a wide range of combinations and afiords no greater difiiculty or requires no more extended operation to employ a combination involving high numbers than low numbers.

The lock shown in the drawings embodies six tumblers or looking units which enables the use of nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine different combinations. As shown in the drawing, the combination required to release the locking bolt is 586472. This number may be changed by merely a rearrangement of the tumblers or looking units or by locating'the release notch at different points in the respective units. Thelock is adapted to be released by a release key, also of the permutation type, having a plurality of tumblers or units which may be previouslyset to the combination necessary to operate the lock, and by which the lock is releasedby a single operation.

When permutation locks, involving push buttons, levers, or knobs, which must be repeatedly manipulated inorder to release the lock, are employed the tendency is to use combinations containing low numbers thereby reducing the number of manipulations necessary. This increases the ease with which the lock may be opened by unauthorized persons who may start with No. 1 and operate the lock on successive numbers until the proper combination has been reached. In the present instance this difficulty has been obviated by providing means whereby combinations containing the high numbers are equally as easily operated as those containing low n'umbers. This is accomplished into the ends of the clevises. are located in the supporting plate at such .thrown out of the proper combination necessary to release the lock in which case it must be readjusted before it is agaln used.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, 1 is an automobile control lever movable in the usual H slot 2 in a suitable sector or guide plate 3, in which it is desired to lock the lever in normal or neutral position in the transverse portion of the H slot. Secured to the movable lever 1 by means of clevises 4: is a supporting plate or frame 5 having at its opposite edges longitudinally disposed gibs or guides 6 in which the housing of the lock mechanism slides. The lock mechanism housing is provided with a suitable flange which engages within the recessed gibs 0r guides. At its upper end the supporting frame or plate 5 is provided with a transverse groove or recess 7 in which the closure plate of the lock housing engages to prevent the withdrawal of the look from the gibs 6. The clevises 4 are attached to the supporting plate or frame by screws 8 which extend throughthe supporting plate or frame and These screws points that they will be covered and concealed by the lock housing when the latter is in adjusted position. In addition to the clamping of the operating lever 1 to the supporting plate by means of the clevises, the

' supporting plate is further attached against longitudinal movement upon the handle by means of a cupped or dog pointed set screw 9 which engages the edge of the lever 1 and is so located in the plate that it also will be concealed and protected by the lock housing. It will thus be seen that it is necessary to remove the lock housing from the supporting frame or plate before the latter can be adjusted to or removed from the control lever 1. p

The lock housing comprises a trough-like or open-sided and open ended frame-as shown in detail in Fig. 12. At its lower end this frame is provided with transverse grooves or guides 11 in which slide a removable bottom plate 12. (See Figs. 1, 7 to 10, inclusive). The bottom plate 12 is provided with a transverse groove or necess 13 .Which registers with longitudinal grooves 14 located in the inner faces of the side walls of the housing frame and adjacent to the edges thereof. These longitudinal grooves.

or recesses 14 receive a sliding front plate 15 which, when properly adjusted, projects. into the transverse groove or recess 13 in the 1,15s,seo

'bottom plate 12 and thereby prevents the withdrawal of the bottom plate 12 until the front plate 15- has first been elevated. Thus the front plate 15 locks the bottom plate 12 in adjusted position.

At its upper end the frame 10 is provided with transverse grooves or recesses 16 in which slides a cover or closure plate 17 which projects over the upper edge of the front plate 15 and prevents the elevationplate or frame 5 thereby locking the housing against withdrawal from the gibs or guides 6. The top or closure plate 17 is in turn locked against withdrawal from the re cess 7 in the supporting plate or frame by the locking bolt hereinafter described. There is thus provided a chain'of locks comprising the main locking bolt which looks the top or cover plate 17 which in turn, by its engagement in the recess 7, looks the housing against removal from its supporting plate or frame 5 and furthermore, by its extension over the front plate 15, locks the front plate 15 in adjusted position, which in turn by its engagement in the groove 13 looks the bottom plate 12. The

housing 10 is further provided with parallel spaced grooves or recesses 18 and 19 in its'inner walls to receive partition plates 20 and 21 (see Fig. 7) which form guides for the reciprocatory tumblers or looking units and the plunger-s hereinafter mentioned. Intermediate the grooves 18 and 19 in the side walls of the housing there are provided other grooves or recesses 22 of comparatively short extent with which a transverse slot 23 in the lid or cover plztte 1.7 registers when the said plate is in its adjusted posi- .hold the lever 1 in its neutral position.

tion. The release key is introduced through the slotv 2.3 and reciprocates in the short grooves or recesses :22 to unlock the mechanism. Located adjacent to'the back wall of the housing frame are longitmlinal grooves or recesses 24 in which engage lateral flanges 25 upon the reciprocatory locking bolt 26 which-is adapted to reciprocate within the housing frame in said grooves or recesses 24.

For engagement with the medial tongue of theguide plate 3, the lower edge of the locking bolt is provided with a bifurcated head 27 which. engages over said tongue to lt is; to be understood that this bifurcated end is merely incidental to this particular use of the device and that the locking bolt head may be of any suitable or desired shape according to the shape of the keeper or socket to be engaged thereby.

Adjacent to its lower end the locking bolt 26 is provided with an inward projecting stud 28 having a head 29 projecting into a slot 30 in the rear wall of the housing frame. A retracting spring 31 is attached at one end to the stud 28 and at its upper end to a stud 32 projecting from the partition plate 21. This retracting spring 31 tends to elevate the locking bolt 26 when said bolt is released from the detent or dog.

Adjacent to its upper end the locking bolt 26 is provided with a lug or shoulder exten sion with which it is engaged, by a detent or locking dog. The locking dog comprises a transverse head 34 supported by pivotally connected parallel arms hinged at their lower ends to a suitable lug or pivot head 36 carried by the partition plate 21.- The object in bifurcating the detent or looking dog or providing the double arms 35 there for is to provide a sufficient clearance space intermediate said arms for the retracting spring 31 of the locking bolt which is located intermediate the arms. The relation of these parts is best shown in Fig. 9.

When the locking bolt is in its depressed or operated position, the transverse head 34 of the detent or looking dog engages the upper edge or shoulder of the lug or extension 33, as shown in Fig. 7, to hold the bolt in adjusted position. However, when the bolt 26 is released and retracted by the spring 31 the transverse head 3st. of the detent or locking dog will engage beneath the lower edge or shoulder of the lug or extension 33, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7, and by dot and dash lines in Fig. 17, to lock the bolt in its elevated or inoperative posi tion.

The locking dog or detent is provided with springs 37 whichtend to oscillate the detent or dog away from the bolt and out of engagen'ient with the lug or extension Thus the normal tendency of the detent or locking dog is to release the bolt and allow it to be elevated by the retracting spring 31. The releasing movement of the detent or dog, however, is prevented by its engagement with the locking tumblers or units 39 loosely mounted to reciprocate intermediate the partition or guide plates 20 and 21. The partition or guide plate 21 is provided with a recess 44) through which the trans verse head of the detent or dog projects into contact with the tumblersor locking units 35).

The lockin tumblers or units are shown in detail in l ig. 17. Each comprises a short bar having in one edge a notch or recess 41. To extend the possible combinations to be made with one set of tumblers or locking units the locking units are preferably provided with notches 41 in each edge whereby the locking unit may be reversed, the

notches, of course,.being located at difierent points in relation with the length of the unit. Thus in Fig. 7 the locking unit has a notch in one edge in the N o. 4; position and in the opposite edge in a number 8 position. In Fig. 17 the locking unit nearest to the observer is provided with a notch in the number 2 position in one edge and in the shown, each provided with notches in differ- 'ent positions in relation to the ends of the These locking tumblers or units are unit. arranged side by side in the space intermediate. the partition or guide plates 20 and 21. The combination may not only be changed by reversing these units in their positions, but the positions of the units themselves may be interchanged. By changing the order of the units the combination may be further varied.

To facilitate the interchange of the looking units or tumblers, they are'provided at their upper ends with small notches 42 by which they may be engaged to lift them from their positions between the partition or guide plates 20 and 21. These locking tumblers or units are loosely supported upon the upper ends of depressible plungers 43 also mounted to reciprocate between the partition or guide plates 20 and 21. There is provided one depressible plunger 43 for each locking'unit or tumbler. The plunger-s 43 are eaclrprovided with a shoulder or offset 4-1- which engages the lower end of the partition or guide plate 20 and forms a stop to limit the upward movement of the plunger. A retracting spring a5 is connected at one end to a stud 46 carried by the plunger 43, at its upper end to a stud 17 projecting from the partition or guide plate 30. There is a retracting spring provided for each of the plungers 43. (See Fig. 10).

As before stated, the detent or dog is held against movement under the influence of the springs 37 by the engagement of the transverse head 3% with the un-notched portion of the locking tumblers or units 39. By depressing the tumblers or units 39 each a different distance against the tension of the retraction springs 45 of the plungers 43, the notches or recesses 41 in the tumblers or units 39 are brought into alinement one with another and also into registry with the transverse head 34 of the detent or looking dog. As soon as this occurs the detent or looking dog, acting under the influence of its springs 37, will move into the alined' registered notches tl of the locking units and out of the path of the lug or extension 33 on the locking bolt. The bolt thus released will be elevated under the influence of the rewill be freed whereby it may be depressed against the tension of said spring. As soon as pressure upon the tumblers or units 39 is relieved, the plunger springs 45 will retract the plungers and thereby elevate the tumblers or units to normal position. The notches -l1 are thus returned to unalined positions and the dog caused to engage an unnotcheol portion of the units.

It is to be noted that the lower sides of the notches orrecesses 41 of the tumblers or units are inclined or beveled. Engagement of these beveled edges with the transverse head 34.- of the detent or looking dog acts as cams upon said head to force the'head outward away from the, tumblers or units against the tension of the spring 37 and into the path of the lug or extension 33 upon the locking bolt. Thus whenever the tumblers or looking units are released from their depressed position, in which the notches 41- are alined, the detent or looking dog is auto matically thrown into the path of the looking bolt lug 33 therebylocking the said looking bolt in either its depressed or elevated position. v

If so desired, a permanent key having .shoulders or offsets thereon corresponding with the positions of the notches/l1 in the tumblers or units 39 may be employed. When such key is inserted into the slot 23 in the cover plate or lid 17 and reciprocated downward through the guide grooves or recesses 22, the tumblers or units and the corres ionding plungers are depressed to such. extent as to aline or register the notches 4:1 and release the dog or detent. This would constitute a permutation lock, the tumblersof which are interchangeable. Upon changing the combination by interchanging the tumblers a permanent key of different shape ,would be required. However, if possession of the permanent key was secured by an unauthorized person,-the lock could be readily operated. To obviate this difii'culty there is provided for use with the look as before described a permutation key, shown inFig. 11 and in Figs. 18 to 21 inclusive. This key comprises a frame 50, shown in detail in Fig. 20, which comprises two parallel bars or fingers 51 connected by a transverse head 52 at one end and further connected at a medial point by a transverse plate or offset head 53, one edge of which is inclined or provided with a cam surface 54.

Loosely mounted in the frame inter mediate the fingers 51 are a plurality of longitudinally movable plungers 55, one for each locking tumbler or unit 39. Each of these plungers 55 has adjacent to its 'outer end a notch 56 in which may be engaged any pointed implement to move thejplunger longitudinally in the frame. Adjacent to the rear extremities. thefnlnnaerq 55 are, hm-

vided with a plarality ofinotches or ratchet teeth 57 which are located on-thatside of the plunger adjacenttothe transverse plate Or head 53. Mounted to reciprocate upon the frame 50 intermediate the terminal head 52 and the medial head is a slide 58 carrying a plurality of spring-fingers 59, one for each of the reciprocatory plungers 55. These spring fingers 59 engage the notches or ratchet teeth 57 of the correspondingplungers 55. At its'extremity the slide 58 is.

As before stated, the spring fingers 59 of the slide 58 engage the notches or ratchet teeth 57 ofthe corresponding plungers 55. f

When the slide is in its forward or advanced position the finger-s59 project beneath the inclined or cam surface54. of the transverse medial head 53 by which the fingers are locked in engagement with the notches or. ratchet teeth 57 of the plungers '55, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the plungers. The slide 58 is held in its advanced or locked position by the engagement of the detents or teeth 60 thereof in the notches 61 in the fingers 51 of the frame. However, by tilting the slide 58 to raise the rear end thereof, the detents or teeth 60 of the slideare disengaged from the notches 61 of the frame whereupon the slide may be moved rearward a sufficient distance to disengage the spring fingers 59 from beneath the inclined or cam surface 54 of the transverse medial head This unlocks the plungers and the spring fingers 59 are thereupon permitted to vibrate as the plunger is pulled outward. When the plungers are all adjusted outward to the proper position to correspond with the locking units or tumblers 41, the slide 58 is reciprocated forward to again lock the plungers in adjusted position. by the cam action of the surface 54 pressing the fingers into engagement with the plungers. It is held in advanced position by the engagement of the teeth or deterts 60 in the notchesGl. If, however, it is desired to destroy or throw out the combination setting of the key, the rear end of the slide is elevated, as before described, to disengage it from the notches 61 whereupon it is reciprocated rearward-to disengage the spfing 59 from the cam surface 54 whereupon the forward end of the slide is then elevated '10 disengage the fingers 59 from the notches "7 of the plungers, allowing the plungers ".o be pressed rearward, or if the key is held in a vertical position, the plungers will I{ turn to normal or 0 position by gravity.

To preve it the accidental disengagement of the slide from the frame or the spring fingers 59 fi om the plungers the slide 58 is subjected to the tension of a flat spring 62 which isbent into a substantially U shaped form. One side of this spring plate is secured to the frame 50 by screws 63, as shown in Fig. l1. The other side of the spring J plate or casing is free and bears upon the 41 of the lock mechanism.

l/Vhen-the key is inserted through the slot 23 in the cover plate 17 the fingers 51 enter the guide slots or grooves in the side walls of the housing frame while the plungers engage the corresponding tumblers or locking units ,to depress said locking units against the tensions of the plunger springs 1-5 to ,aline the notches 41. If the plungers within the key have not been properly adjustedthe units will not be depressed to the proper position and the notches will not be alined. Therefore the lock will not be released unless the proper combination has been set upon the key. The combination set upon the key is the one corresponding to the arrangement of the locking units or tumblers within. the locking mechanism.

If desired, the key plungers may be thrown out of adjustment after each operation of the look by the manipulation of the slide 58, before described. If, however, there is no danger of the key falling into the hands of an unauthorized person, the combination setting of the key may be retained for the day or for such period of time as may bedesired. However, whenever the operator so desires he may throw off the key combination and it can be reset again only by a person who has knowledge of the combination or arrangement of the locking tumblers or units within the locking mechanism.

In setting the key plungers the notches 56 are engaged by any pointed instrument and the plunger pushed out to the desired exwith an extension (34 which normally projects above the cover or locking or closure plate 17. This extension (34 is provided with oppositely disposed notches 65 forming a neck which registers with the lid or cover platev 17 when the lock at a medial point in its path of travel. At this medial point,

when the notches 65 are alined with the cover or closure plate 17 the detent or dog 34 is engaged in the alined notches 41 of the tumblers or units upon one side and at the opposite side bears upon the face of the lug bolt is in its medial position, a. e., at. a point midway between its locked and unlocked position, the cover lid or closure plate 17 may be reciprocated past the bolt. In such case the narrow portion of the slot. 66 passes through the notches 66 until the wide portion of the slot is alined with the bolt. When the locking bolt 26 is in either its depressed or elevated position, the lateral notches 65 will be out of alinement with the cover plate 17 and the portions of the extension 64 on either side of the notches will be engaged within the wide portion of the T shaped slot thereby preventing the withdrawal of the cover plate until the locking plunger .is moved to its medial position.

In Eig. 15 the locking bolt has been shown by solid lines alined with the cover plate,

in which position the cover plate may be" withdrawn. In dotted lines the locking bolt has been shown in its elevated position whereby the cover plate is locked against withdrawal by that portion of the extension beneath the lateral notches 65. The depressed position of the locking bolt is shown by dot and dash lines in which position the portion of the extension above the lateral notches 65, engaging in the wide portion of the T shaped slot, locks the cover plate against withdrawal. In its innermost or locked position therear edge of the lid- 01- cover plate 17 engages in the transverse groove 7 in the supporting frame or plate as before described Therefore when the locking bolt is in either its released or its operated position the housing is securely locked to the supporting frame or plate 5. 4

In Fig. 5 there has been shown an applica-.

tion of the locking mechanism, before de scribed, to the control of an electric switch. In this construction the supporting plate or frame 5 is formed with a hollow or recess 67 in which is located an ordinary fiat spring contact 68. The spring contact 68 is insulated from the supporting frame or plate and is provided at its free end with a stud or contact point 69 which projects through an opening 70 in the face of the supporting plate or frame'5. The stud or contact finger 69 extends beyond the faceofthe supposition it is in the path of the head 29 of the stud or pin 28 carried .by the locking porting frame or plate 5 into the slot 30 in. the rear wall of the locli housing in which' the supporting frame or plate 5, forms one terminal of the circuit. In this construc'- tion the head 29 of the stud 28, carried by the locking bolt, will engage the contact stud or finger 69, carried by the spring contact 68, when the bolt is depressed, ther .by closing the circuit. The lockingbolt be g secured in either its elevated or depre ssed position by the mechanism before described, the circuit cannot be closed without first operating the lock mechanism to release the bolt. The bolt having been thus released and depressed, the circuit is closed and cannot be opened by the elevationof the bolt until the lock mechanism is again manipulated.

It is obvious that any suitable switch mechanism may be employed and applicant does not wish to confine. himself to the particular switch shown in the drawing. For example, in lieu of the single spring contact 68, two-contact blades 71 and 72, as shown in Fig. 5, may be employed which are pressed 'llltO engagement one with the other by the engagement of the stud head 29 with-a suitable projection carried by one of these blades. In this construction the supporting frame or plate 5 and the lock housing would form no part of the electric circuit. To prevent the closing of the circuit by unauthorized persons by means of an implement such as a knife blade inserted-into the slot 30 from the bottom of the housing, thereby either depressin the contact finger or studor making electrical contact between the circuit terminals without first manipulating the lock mechanism, there is provided upon the rear face of the locking bolt a projecting lug 73 which, when the locking bolt is in its elevated position, closes the lower end of the slot 30, as shown in Fig. It will be. understood that when the lock is used to control an electric circuit the blflll". catedhead on the lower end of-the bolt is omitted.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a construction such as is usually found'in safe or vault doors in which 75 is the door which en-,

fore described, is inserted in the door frame.

as indicated at 79, in such position that the bolt of the locking mechanism will engage the door bolt 77 to prevent its withdrawal .under the influence of the handle 78.

In Fig. 22 there is shown a modification of the locking mechanism, the only change being in the arrangement of the locking bolt. The tumblers, the plungers, and the retracting springs are exactly the same as before described. On its inner side the locking dog engages the notches in the tumblers or units in the same manner as before described. Likewise it is spring actuated toward the locking tumblers by a spring 37 corresponding to the springs 37, as before mentioned. In lieu, however, of the reciprocating locking bolt of the previous construction, there is employed in this snap lock an oscillatory hook shaped bolt 79 pivoted concentric with the oscillatory dog or detent. In thisi orm of device the detent dog is provided with lugs or extensions 81 which engage the pivoted bolt 79 and carry the bolt with the dog in its inward movement under the influence of the spring 37 when the notches in the tumblers or locking units have been brought into registry with the head 34 of the dog. This inward oscillation of the locking bolt 79 in unison with the dog or detent under the influence of the spring 37 disengages the hook bolt 79 from its keeper 80. Of course this can only occur when the locking unit has been properly adjusted. lhe locking bolt 79, however, is capable of oscillatory movement inward independent of the dog or detent 35 against the tension of the springy82. This spring 82 is secured to the hook bolt 7 9 and bears at its free end upon the dog or detent 35 and tends to maintain the lock bolt 79 in contact with the lugs or extensions 81 of the dog or detent. However, when the dog or detent is in its normal or locked position and the keeper 80 is thrust downward the interengagement of the cam face of the keeper 80 with that of the lock bolt 79 causes the bolt 79 to be oscillated inward independent of the dog or detent against the tension of the spring 82 until the shoulder of the keeper has passed that of the lock bolt. whereupon the spring 82 will return the lock bolt into engagement with the shoulder of the keeper. This construction is particularly desirable for chests or doors or other constructions employing relatively movable parts which tend to approach or rccedc one from the other.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a. device of the character described. possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion. dctail construction or arrangement of parts. without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While inv order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to certain structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific details, but that the means and construction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a permutation lock, a housing, a reciprocatory bolt, a detent therefor, a plurality of independently movable reciprocatory plungers, and a plurality of independent interchangeable locking units one for each plunger upon which the locking units rest, each locking unit having a recess therein, the recesses of the different units being adapted to be alined by the independent adjustment of the locking units to different relative positions thereby permitting the detent to enter into the alined recesses to release the bolt.

2. In a permutation lock, ahousing, a

reciprocatory bolt, a detent therefor, a plurality of spring actuated independently dc member having a di erently located notch in the opposite sides thereof, the locking members beingreversible whereby different combinations may be effected, the plungers and locking members being depressible in unison to aline the-notches to permit the disengagement of the detent from the bolt.

4. In a lock mechanism, a movable bolt, oppositely disposed shoulders on the bolt, a detent adapted to engage either of the shoulders to maintain the bolt in either locking or unlocking positions, a spring tending v to move the detcut out of engagement with the bolt and a plurality of independent movable locking units normally extending into the path of the detent and movable therefrom through different predetermined degrecs of movement.

In a permutation lock, a locking bolt, a dctent therefor, a plurality of independently dcprcssible spring actuated plungers, and a plurality of separate interchangeable locking members one for each plunger moving in unison with the plungers controlling v the movement of the detent into and out of bolt, a supp rt to which the housing is detachably secured by the operation of said locking'bolt, and attachment means for said I support normally concealed and rendered inaccessible by said housing.

t. In a permutation lock, a housing, a

locking bolt, locking means Within the housing controlling the bolt, a series of reciprocatory closures for said housing, each succeeding closure of the series being adapted to extend into the path of the preceding closure, the bolt normally extending into the path of the final closure of the series.

8. In a permutation lock, a housing, a locking bolt, locking means within the housing controlling the bolt, a reciprocatory closure for the housing having a key hole slot therein extending to the edge of the closure, through the enlarged portion of which the bolt normally reciprocates, the bolt having therein a reduced portion which when projected to a plane common with the closure permits the narrow portion of the slot to be drawn past the bolt.

9. In a lock mechanism, a housing, a lock-.

ing bolt, locking mechanism within the housing controlling thebolt, a closure for said housing locked by the bolt when the bolt is at either limit of its stroke and released by the adjustment of the bolt to an intermediate position.

10: In a lock mechanism, a, housing, a bolt, lock mechanism Within the housing controlling the bolt, a sliding closure for the hgusing having a projection engaged by the bufauhen in both locking and releasing positions but disengaged thereby when the bolt is in a predetermined intermediate position.

11. In a lock mechanism, a housing, a reciprocatory bolt, locking means Within the housing controlling the bolt, a closure for the housing, a shoulder on said closure normally engaging with the bolt to. prevent the movement of the closure when the bolt is in both locked and unlocked positions, the bolt being provided with a recess through which the said shoulder may pass in the opening or closing movement of the closure when said bolt is in a predetermined position.

12. In a lock mechanism, a. housing, an operating bolt, locking means Within the housing controlling the bolt, a closure member for saidhousing controlled by the bolt, and a second closure member for the housing 1.;ontrolled by the first closure Iiiember.

13. In a lock mechanism, a housing, a locking bolt, locking means within the housing controlling the bolt, a support for the housino with which the housing is slidingly ad usta lo, and a rcciprocatory member car-- ried by tha housin g and engagingthe support controlled by the bolt for preventing the detachment of the housing from its support.

14:. In a lock mechanism, ahousing, a locking bolt, locking means Within the housing in which the housing is slidinglymovable, controlling the bolt, a support independent of the housing for the housing, attachment means for the support covered by the housing when the latter is in adjusted position, and means for locking the housing to the support.

15. In a permutation look, a housing, a bolt therein, a detent controllingj the bolt, a partition in the housing of less length than the housing, a plurality of independently adjustable spring actuated plungers controlling the -detent, each plunger having an offset or shoulder thereon adapted. to engage I the end of said partition to limit the reciprocatory movement of the plungers under the influence of their springs.

16. The combination with a lock mechaa series of ratchet teeth upon each plunger,

and an independent detent pawl for each plunger engagingthe ratchet teeth to hold the plunger in its adjusted position.

17. The combination with a lock mechanism of a permutation key therefor comprising a main frame, a plurality of reciprocatory plunger-s therein, a spring detent for each plunger permitting the independent adjustment of the plungers in one direction but resisting the return movement of the plungers, and means for simultaneously releasing the detents- 18. The combination with a lock mechanism of a permutation key therefor comprising a main frame, a plurality of reciprocatory plungers therein, a spring detent for each plunger permitting the independent adjustment of the plunger-s in one direction but resisting the return movement of the plungers, and a movable support common to all the detents.

19. The combination with a lock mecha nism including a plurality of independent movable locking units adapted to be moved to different predetermined positions to effect the release of the locking mechanism, of a key therefor comprising a series of independentlyadjustable plunger-s, each of the plungers being provided with a series of notches, and a series of spring fingers one for each plunger engaging the saiil teeth to maintain the plungers in adjusted positions.

20. The combination with a lockmechanism including a plurality of independent movable locking units adapted to be moved to different predetermined positions to effect the release of the locking mechanism, of apendently adjustable plungers, eachof the plungers being provided with a series of notches, and a seriesof spring fingers one for each plunger engaging the said teeth to maintain the plungers in adjusted positions, a reciprocatory slide upon which the fingers are carried, and a transverse cam bar with which the fingers are engaged by a reciprocatory movement of the slide to lock the fingers in engagement with the plunger-s.

21.. The combination with a lock mechanism of a permutation key therefor comprising a main frame, a plurality of reciprocatory plungers therein, a spring detent for each plunger permitting the independent adjustment of the plungers in one direction but resisting the return movement of the plungers, a locking bar upon said frame,a

support common to all the detents, saidlocking bar and support being relatively adjustable whereby the locking bar and de tents will be brought into engagement one with the other to lock the plunger-s in adjusted position. i

22. The combination with a lock mechanism of a permutation key therefor comprising a main frame, a plurality of reciprocatory plungers therein, a spring detent for each plunger permitting the independent adjustment of the plungers in one direction but resisting the return, movement of the plungers, and a support common to. all the detents capable of oscillatory movement adapted thereby to simultaneously release all the detents.

23. The combination with 'a lock mechanism including a plurality of independently movable locking members adapted to be moved to diflerent predetermined positions to effect the release of the lock, of a permutation, key comprising a plurality of independently adjustable plungers one for'each locking member capable of adjustmentto different relative positions corresponding with the releasing positions of the lock members, an independent detent for each plunger adapted to retain the plunger in its adjusted position, means for simultaneously locking the detents in engagement with the plunger-s and means for simultaneously releasing the detents.

24. The combination with a lockmechanism including a plurality of independently movable locking members adapted to be moved to different predetermined positions to effect the release of the lock, of a permutation key comprising a. plurality of independently adjustable plungers one for each locking member capable of adjustment to different relative positions corresponding with the releasing positions of the lock members, a series of ratchet teeth upon each plunger and an independent spring actuated detent engaging the teeth of each plunger to maintain the plungers in adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of February A. D. 1915.

THOMAS A. sAMMoNs.

\Vitnesses CLARENCE J. STOEGKLEIN, CARRIE M. BECKER. 

